Scouting Calendar
Being in the field when you need to be is the only thing that will
make scouting successful. Not being in the field any more than you have
to be is what makes scouting cost-effective. With each scouting trip, the
scout must decide not only if pest numbers have reached treatment thresholds,
but also when the next scouting visit should be planned.
Scouting- a job in itself. Scouting requires
concentration and attention to detail. It isn't possible to do a good job
of scouting while trying to do other tasks, such as shearing or fertilizing.
When scouting, an individual should go to the field with only scouting
in mind.
For most Fraser fir pests, plan on about 20 minutes
scouting time per acre. More time is needed when scouting for more than
one pest. As the scout becomes familiar with the pests common to each block,
scouting time may be reduced without reducing effectiveness.
Scouting with a pest in mind. Whenever a
block is scouted, all pests observed should be noted. However, usually
when a scout makes a trip to a field, it is with the goal of finding a
certain pest, or pests, commonly active during that time of year.
Some pests are easy to scout for at the same time,
such as rust mites and spruce spider mites. Both of these pests require
walking the block in the same pattern, looking at the same type of foliage,
and keeping track of the number of trees examined. However, some pests
are not easy to scout for at the same time. For instance, when scouting
for balsam woolly adelgid the scout is looking for crooked tops; when scouting
for spruce spider mites the scout is focusing at the middle or lower portion
of the tree. To look thoroughly at both places is difficult. Decide before
entering the block which pest(s) are of primary concern that day.
The basic scouting calendar. In western North
Carolina, the basic pests of Fraser fir Christmas trees include weeds,
the balsam woolly adelgid, spruce spider mite, and balsam twig aphid. The
basic scouting calendar (Table 2) is designed so that the scout is in the
field often enough to scout for these pests, as well as to take soil samples
on a regular basis. It represents the minimum of four trips to each block
that a scout can do and still keep on top of pest populations. This basic
calendar can and should be modified depending on the weather and on other
pests that may occur.
In this calendar, spruce spider mite populations
are assessed every scouting visit. Weed growth and the weed inventory are
assessed through the spring and summer. The balsam woolly adelgid and rosette
buds are assessed in late summer and fall. Soil and plant tissue samples
are taken the last visit.
Table 2. Basic scouting calendar for Fraser fir Christmas trees in western
North Carolina
| Time of Year |
Basic Scouting Tasks |
| Spring scouting (March-April) |
Spruce spider mite
Balsam twig aphid
Hemlock rust mite - evaluate possibility to control this pest with
twig aphid treatment |
| Early summer scouting (May-June) |
Spruce spider mite
Balsam twip aphid damage to young trees
Evaluate growth of summer annuals and perennials |
| Late summer scouting (July-August) |
Spruce spider mite
Balsam woolly adelgid
White grubs
Weed inventory |
| Fall scouting (September-October |
Spruce spider mite
Rosette bud mite
Soil and Plant tissue sampling
May need to reassess rust mites |
Additional scouting visits. Additional scouting
visits are required whenever pest activity warrants. The primary pests
that may require additional visits are the spruce spider mite and rust
mite. If a scouting visit shows that these pests are becoming active, or
if the weather is conducive for their reproduction and spread, then additional
scouting visits should be planned. In addition, assessing the effectiveness
of a pesticide treatment usually requires an additional scouting trip.
Recording scouting visits. Be sure to keep
detailed records of scouting visits so that pest trends can be monitored.
Scouting forms are available from your county extension agents.
Recording Scouting Visits
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